Eagle Rock rocks

Dine, stroll, and bowl in this small town in the big city

Not too long ago, the stretch of Colorado Boulevard that ran
through the Los Angeles neighborhood of Eagle Rock was, in the
words of resident Mary Tokita, "just a place you drove on to get
from the Valley to Pasadena."

Now the boulevard and Eagle Rock itself are coming into their
own. For years, residents watched as Colorado Boulevard slid into
decline: Storefronts receded, parking lots encroached, and
neighborhood shops were replaced by automotive businesses ―
more than 90, by Tokita's count. But Tokita and other residents
formed a neighborhood association that fought to enhance the
foot-friendly nature of the boulevard, which serves as Eagle Rock's
Main Street.

Once an auto-repair shop,
Fatty's & Co.($$; closed Tue; 1627 Colorado Blvd.; 323/254-8804) is now a
vegetarian cafe, although the automotive magazines for sale here
provide a nice link to the past. Longer-established favorites
include
Casa Bianca($; closed Sun-Mon; 1650 Colorado; 323/256-9617) for pizza
and
Colombo's Restaurant($$$; 1833 Colorado; 323/254-9138) for steaks and live
jazz.

Car culture hasn't been totally lost here; on the last Saturday
of each month,
Jim's Burgers($; 2005 Colorado; 323/257-3892) ― as unpretentious as
the name implies ― hosts the Eagle Rockin' Rodders car club.
After talking shop with collectors of "vintage tin," bowl a frame
or two at
All Star Lanes (4459 Eagle Rock Blvd.; 323/254-2579), famous
for its thwarted appointment with the wrecking ball.

Higher culture isn't neglected either.
Toros Pottery(closed Sun; 4962 Eagle Rock Blvd.; 323/344-8330) is a gem
of a store, with beautiful ceramics and a range of pottery classes.
And
Occidental College(1600 Campus Rd.; 323/259-2500) has graceful Myron
Hunt-designed buildings that have been settings for numerous films,
from the Hepburn-Tracy classic
Pat and Mike to
Star Trek III. A walk through campus makes a fine spring
outing. Or enjoy a musical offering: On April 24, the
Occidental-Caltech Symphony Orchestra performs for free at Thorne
Hall auditorium.